For as long as we’ve been cruising, a Canada and New England Fall cruise has lingered on our wish list. The thought of golden foliage, quaint towns, and steaming bowls of chowder aboard a cozy ship has long tugged at our wanderlust. So, when Holland America Line invited us to join MS Zuiderdam on a seven-night voyage from Quebec City to Boston, we didn’t just pack our bags—we packed our best scarves and sweaters.

A Seamless Start in Quebec City

Having just disembarked a Viking Great Lakes cruise in Toronto, we spent a few transitional days exploring Toronto and catching a train to beautiful Montreal for a couple of days before boarding another VIA Rail train to Quebec City where the MS Zuiderdam was waiting for us - conveniently docked near the train station.

Beautiful Montreal

With an overnight stay in port, we took full advantage of the first afternoon onboard to settle in. After unpacking in our stateroom, we grabbed a late lunch at the Dive-In and spent some time exploring the ship.

A Taste of Old Quebec

With a late departure the following afternoon, we had a full morning to explore Vieux-Québec. Breakfast in a charming local café was followed by a heritage-packed wander through cobbled streets lined with 17th-century architecture. From the iconic Château Frontenac, we strolled along the Dufferin Terrace and climbed 308 steps to the Governor’s Promenade. The panoramic views over the Citadel and the old city were worth every breathless moment.

Descending the Breakneck Stairway into the lower town, we soaked in the artistic soul of Quartier Petit Champlain, marvelling at the large scale murals and some very pink (and very odd) baby sculptures scattered around the city - apparently part of an art installation created by famed french artist, Philippe Katerine.

Back onboard, we sailed out along the St. Lawrence River. With it being dressy night, we donned our best and kicked off the evening with cocktails and live jazz in the Ocean Bar. Gala dinner in the main dining room was followed by a fabulous Diva-themed show in the World Stage theatre.

Sea Day Serenity

Sea days aboard Zuiderdam are the perfect blend of laid-back luxury and quiet entertainment. Ours began with a sunrise in the Crow’s Nest and Rich picking up takeaway coffees delivered for Helen to linger over in the oh so comfortable Holland America Line bed. By midday, we were enjoying the New England Brunch in the main dining room, an indulgent spread we may or may not have followed with an unplanned nap.

That evening, dressed once more for dinner, we began in the stylish Gallery Bar before catching the Breton Thunder Celtic music show—a surprisingly powerful performance that had us both toe-tapping and misty-eyed. We had to slip out early for our dinner reservation at Canaletto, Holland America's Italian dining venue, where we may have somewhat overindulged!

Charlottetown and the Lure of Lighthouses

With cloudy skies overhead, we took a slow morning onboard before heading into the charming town of Charlottetown. After wandering through its tidy streets and harbourfront boutiques, we couldn’t resist a lobster roll and poutine combo from The Chip Shack.

Later, we joined our excursion to Prince Edward Island’s iconic lighthouses. First up was Point Prim, the island’s oldest, built in 1846 and still standing proud in its octagonal glory. Next was Wood Islands Lighthouse, active since 1876, before heading to Rossignol Estate Winery for a fruit wine tasting. Wild blueberries, cranberries, apples—you name it, they bottle it.

We toasted to a sun-drenched afternoon and headed back to Zuiderdam for another evening of jazz and a relaxed dinner in the main dining room.

Sydney and a Taste of Nova Scotia

Sydney, Nova Scotia greeted us with colourful wooden houses and a lively old town. We wandered through its churches and streets, eventually circling back to the modern waterfront promenade.

That night, we kicked off our evening with cocktails in the Crow’s Nest and a special dinner in Pinnacle Grill featuring Morimoto’s once-a-cruise Japanese fusion menu. Sushi, gyoza, and a melting chocolate sphere—this was a meal we’ll remember long after dessert.

A UNESCO Day in Lunenburg, Mahone Bay & Peggy’s Cove

An early room-service breakfast powered us for our full day tour which started in historic Lunenburg, a postcard-perfect fishing village and UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the stunning St. John’s Anglican Church to the Second Empire-style Lunenburg Academy, the town is full of architectural treasures.

Our coastal drive continued to Mahone Bay, with just enough time to seek out the three iconic churches standing in a row along the waterfront - St. James’ Anglican Church with its tall Gothic spire, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church reflecting the German heritage of the area, and Trinity United Church, simpler in style but completing the postcard-perfect trio. This view has become one of the most photographed in Nova Scotia. Mahone Bay is also known for its craft shops, artists’ studios, and galleries, as well as annual Scarecrow Festival, when the streets are decorated with hundreds of quirky handmade scarecrows, adding a playful and whimsical edge to this charming seaside town.

Finishing our tour with the highlight of the day we drove to Peggy’s Cove, arguably one of the most iconic lighthouses in Canada. With the autumn foliage at its fiery peak, the setting was nothing short of cinematic. Despite stern warnings, we couldn’t resist hopping onto the rocks for a closer (but careful!) look. and of course a lobster roll from Tom’s Lobster Shack.

Back aboard, it was Orange Night—a Holland America tradition celebrating their Dutch heritage. After our ritual jazz cocktail hour, we enjoyed a Dutch-themed menu in the main dining room. Highlights included the wonderfully named Hutspot Klapstuk and a creamy Tompouce dessert. We wrapped up the night with Breton Thunder’s second show and a raucous singalong in Billboard Onboard.

Portland Charm and One Last Feast

Our penultimate day brought us to Portland, Maine. With no excursion planned, we opted for a leisurely wander around the town. Tempting as the food scene was, we’d reached lobster overload.

Back onboard, we’d saved the best until last with a farewell dinner at our favourite restaurant, Pinnacle Grill, a quiet and delicious farewell to shipboard life.

A Perfect Boston Finale

The next day we sadly disembarked MS Zuiderdam, saying a fodn farewell to the wonderful crew who had looked after us so well. But we weren’t quite ready to end the trip, so with a hotel stay booked before flying back home, we set off to explore Boston. Staying near Newbury Street, we started at Boston’s Public Garden, stopped for a photo at the original Cheers bar, and wandered Boston Common—the oldest public park in the U.S.

Our self-guided walking tour followed much of the Freedom Trail: the golden-domed Massachusetts State House, King’s Chapel burial ground, Old City Hall, and Faneuil Hall. We stopped at the Omni Parker House Hotel for a true Boston cream pie, passed the Irish Famine Memorial, and ended our trail at Quincy Market.

Just off the trail, we visited the haunting New England Holocaust Memorial and the Paul Revere House before finishing with a harbourside stroll and a well-earned lobster roll from James Hook & Co.

Final Thoughts

Our Canada and New England adventure with Holland America Line on MS Zuiderdam was everything we’d hoped for: a patchwork of history, music, culture, and impeccable fall scenery—all wrapped in the comfort of an elegant ship and the warmth of exceptional service.

Whether it’s your first fall cruise or your fiftieth, this itinerary promises charm by the bucketload and memories that linger long after the leaves fall.

We took this cruise in October 2024 and would like to thank Holland America Line who hosted us on this New England and Canada cruise, covering the cost of the cruise and excursions. All airfares, hotel stays and other costs incurred were covered by us. Holland America Line had no editorial control over any of our content, either before, during our after our tour and have not paid us to promote them or this post.

If you enjoyed this blog why not take a look at some of our other blogs, especially our Sydney to Auckland Australia and New Zealand cruise blog.

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